Trump rallies for Ken Paxton in Texas Senate race

President Donald Trump rallied in San Antonio Oct. 7 for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s U.S. Senate bid, urging voters to elect the Republican nominee and warning that a Democratic victory would threaten his administration’s agenda.

Speaking at Freeman Coliseum, where he took the stage for about an hour and 45 minutes, Trump praised Paxton’s record as attorney general and repeatedly attacked his Democratic opponent, state Rep. James Talarico, whom he called “Talafreako” throughout his speech. The rally came less than a month before the Nov. 3 election. 

“He’ll be one of the best senators that we have in this country,” Trump said of Paxton. “You watch. I know my people.”

Trump asked supporters to approach the midterm elections as though he were running himself, saying, “Please pretend that I’m on the ballot. Get out and vote.” He urged the crowd to support other Republican candidates running in the state, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and congressional candidate Carlos De La Cruz. 

The visit was Trump’s third trip to Texas in a month as Republicans work to defend their congressional majorities. Paxton faces a competitive race against Talarico after defeating incumbent Sen. John Cornyn for the Republican nomination. A New York Times/Siena University poll released Oct. 3 showed Talarico leading Paxton 51% to 45% among likely voters. The Cook Political Report changed its rating from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up” in August.

Paxton’s estranged wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, backed the Republican ticket in an ad without naming her husband, whom she is divorcing on “biblical grounds.” She argued that maintaining Republican control outweighs concerns about any individual candidate. 

“In a general election, it’s not as much about the individual players on the team; it’s about getting the whole team across the finish line. Either we hold every Republican seat, or we hand the future of Texas to the other team,” she said, adding, “That’s why I’m voting for the Republican ticket on Nov. 3.” 

Trump attacks Talarico, highlights Paxton’s record

Trump made immigration enforcement a central part of his appeal, arguing that Paxton’s election would help preserve his administration’s border policies. He invited Marie Vega, the mother of slain Border Patrol agent Javier “Harvey” Vega Jr., to address the crowd. She described her son’s killing and urged voters to support Republicans, emphasizing immigration enforcement and the right to bear arms.

“I'm begging you: Get out and vote Republican,” Vega said. “This is the only way we are going to prevent these senseless killings and this invasion. Get out to the rallies, and let our Republican candidates know what you want.”

Trump accused Talarico of supporting efforts to defund police and weaken officers’ legal protections, opposing border wall funding, and backing environmental policies that would threaten Texas’ oil and gas industry. 

“A vote for Talafreako is a vote to turn Texas into a dirty, failing private third-world dumping ground,” Trump said. “And a vote for Ken Paxton is a vote to save Texas and defend everything that made Texas great and makes Texas great and makes America great.”

Trump also attacked many of Talarico’s ideological positions, saying he voted in favor of “transgender” mutilation of children and supports men competing in women’s sports.

“He hates Texas values,” Trump said of Talarico. “He describes himself as a Christian who hates Christianity, says that God is transgender, calls the American flag a complicated symbol, probably of hate. He stated that he wants to dismantle capitalism, claimed that the Ten Commandments are a form of fascism, and when asked what he loved most in the world, he said, ‘Transgender children.’”

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By contrast, Trump highlighted Paxton’s legal challenges to the Biden administration and his work against healthcare fraud and “transgender” medical interventions for children. 

“We want good old-fashioned Texas values,” Trump said.

The President also praised Texas’ school choice program and promoted his administration’s support for oil and natural gas. He argued that maintaining Republican control of Congress would help him advance those priorities. 

Trump touted his administration’s economic record, saying employment and exports had reached record highs and poverty had fallen to its lowest level in U.S. history. He also cited stock market gains and said his administration had attracted $21 trillion in new investment during its first 15 months.

“Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world, the most respected country anywhere in the world,” Trump said.

Returning to Talarico, Trump said, “You wouldn’t trust him to look after your child, and you certainly cannot trust him to represent your state, the greatest state, one of the truly incredible in history. There's never been anything like Texas.”

Early voting in Texas runs Oct. 19-30, with Election Day on Nov. 3.